被擄的預兆
1耶和華對我說： 2「人子啊，你住在叛逆的人當中。他們有眼睛卻視而不見，有耳朵卻聽而不聞，因為他們是叛逆的人。 3所以，人子啊，你要準備流亡的行裝，在白天出去流亡。你要像流亡者一樣，當著他們的面從你住的地方搬到別處。他們雖然叛逆，或許還會明白其中的意思。 4你要在白天當著他們的面把預備流亡的行裝拿出來，你要在晚上當著他們的面像流亡的人一樣出去。 5你要當著他們的面在牆上挖一個洞，帶著行裝鑽出去。 6你要在天黑時當著他們的面背著行裝出發。你要蒙著臉使自己看不見地，因為我要使你成為以色列人的預兆。」
7於是，我遵命而行。白天我把預備流亡的行裝拿出來，晚上用手挖通了牆，當著他們的面背著行裝在天黑時出發。
8第二天早晨，耶和華對我說： 9「人子啊，那些叛逆的以色列人不是問你在做什麼嗎？ 10你要告訴他們，『主耶和華說：這是關於耶路撒冷的首領和城中以色列人的預兆。』 11你要說，『我就是給你們的預兆，我所做的必發生在你們身上，你們必被擄流亡。』 12他們當中的首領必在天黑時背著行裝出發，在牆上挖洞鑽出去，而且必蒙著臉，看不見地。 13我必撒開網羅捕捉他，把他帶到迦勒底人的巴比倫。他必看不見那地方，卻要死在那裡。 14我要把他周圍的隨從和所有軍隊驅散到四方，並且拔刀追殺他們。 15當我把他們驅趕到各國，分散到列邦時，他們就知道我是耶和華。 16然而，我要使他們當中一些人免遭刀劍、饑荒和瘟疫，使他們可以在所去的各國供述自己的一切可憎行為。他們就知道我是耶和華。」
17耶和華對我說： 18「人子啊，你要戰戰兢兢地吃飯，惶惶恐恐地喝水， 19然後對這地方的人說，『關於耶路撒冷和以色列的居民，主耶和華這樣說，他們必焦慮不安地吃飯，惶恐不已地喝水，他們的土地必因其中居民的暴行而荒無人煙。 20他們居住的城邑必淪為廢墟，土地必一片荒涼，他們就知道我是耶和華。』」
21耶和華對我說： 22「人子啊，你們以色列有一句俗語，『光陰流逝，異象都落空。』 23現在你要告訴他們，主耶和華這樣宣告：我要廢掉這句俗語，使它從以色列人的口中消失。你要對他們說，『日子已近，異象都要應驗。』 24在以色列人中必不再有虛假的異象和諂媚的預言。 25我是耶和華，我的話都必實現，決不遲延。你們這叛逆的人啊，我說的話必在你們有生之年應驗！」這是主耶和華說的。
26耶和華對我說： 27「人子啊，你看，以色列人在說，『他見的異象是關乎多年後的事，他說的預言是針對遙遠的未來。』 28因此，你要對他們說，『主耶和華這樣說：我的話必應驗，不再遲延。』這是主耶和華說的。」
The Exile Symbolized
1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.
3“Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people. 4During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. 5While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. 6Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites.”
7So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.
8In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: 9“Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’
10“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ 11Say to them, ‘I am a sign to you.’
“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.
12“The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. 13I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. 14I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.
15“They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 16But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
17The word of the Lord came to me: 18“Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water. 19Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there. 20The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”
There Will Be No Delay
21The word of the Lord came to me: 22“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? 23Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. 24For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel. 25But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious people, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
26The word of the Lord came to me: 27“Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’
28“Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ ”
